When it comes to learning to play the piano, there is one thing that typically kids and teenagers do better than adults and that is not being in a hurry to get good at playing the piano. In most things in life, kids and teenagers are known to be more impulsive and in a hurry to get things done, whereas adults have the maturity to not just know, but to understand that there are things in life that take time.
I find it quite interesting that it is usually adults that are not patient with themselves, when it comes to learning to play the piano. Kids are quite happy to go with the flow and allow their piano teacher to guide them, give them new music to stretch their skill level and demand more from them. It is the adults that seem to be fixated on whether they are making enough progress.
I have come to the conclusion that adults are so focused on whether or not they are making enough progress or not is not because they are impatient but rather they doubt their ability to be able to learn enough that they can play what they want on the piano. Basically, it’s not impatience, it’s insecurity.
I believe part of this insecurity stems from not wanting to waste the piano teacher’s time. Having adult students that are respectful of my time is a good thing, but when it causes a student to doubt whether they should be learning because they might waste my time, is actually counter-productive to the student. My criteria for a student to be worthwhile and not a waste of time is that I get paid promptly and that they make a genuine effort with their lessons and their practice. That is it. I do not expect that my piano students hit certain benchmarks each week, or they are wasting my time. I fully understand that life happens and that life can throw the weirdest obstacles at people.
I don’t think anyone should doubt their potential to learn to play the piano. I believe everyone has some potential and if a person takes a slower time to learn than what they expect, it really doesn’t matter. When a person gets to a point where they can play the music that they want to play, it is not going to be an issue of whether they would have, or could have or should have learned any faster. It is completely irrelevant.
So if you are wondering whether you are good enough or going to be able to learn to play the piano fast enough – ditch those ideas completely. Just focus on learning and practicing, one step at a time, one day at a time, one practice at a time.
And remember to enjoy the process.